A well worn cookbook is a map of taste. Flip through the pages and you’ll find the spine naturally giving way at favourite dishes, the recipes marked with notes or greasy fingers. It reveals the cooking history of it’s owner and holds memories in those oil splattered pages of shared meals and good times.
One of my most worn cookbooks is Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros. It is a rich and colourful memoir that traverses the globe from Finland to South Africa via the Mediterranean to capture Kiros’ family recipes. If you let the pages of my copy fall open, they will land at Greece, and you’ll find the recipe for a chickpea salad.
This is a most satisfying salad. The chickpeas make it almost a meal in itself and the feta coats everything to make a salty, creamy dressing that comes to life with the citrus and herbs.
It’s my go-to dish for whenever I’m asked to bring a salad to a party, especially BBQs as it goes so beautifully with grilled meat. The flavours in the salad get better over time, so make it a few hours before you serve it if you can. I top leftovers with smoked salmon or stir through some tinned tuna to make a delicious work lunch. If you like coriander (cilantro) more than I, then add 1/2 a cup like the original recipe calls for.
Chickpea, Feta and Parsley Salad
Serves 6-8 as a side dish
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 tbs olive oil
- Pinch red chili flakes
- 2 400g (14oz) tins of chickpeas
- 4 spring onions (scallions), green part only, chopped
- 1 cup chopped parsley
- Juice of one lemon
- 150g (5 ounces) feta
- Salt and pepper
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook the red onion till lightly golden. Add garlic and chili and cook till the garlic is fragrant. Set aside to cool so it doesn’t melt the feta when you mix it in.
Drain the chickpeas, rinse and place in the salad bowl. Add crumbled feta, spring onion, parsley and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper. Add the cooled onion and garlic mixture and remaining oil and mix well.
(Recipe morphed over time from the original in Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros)
I love this recipe… I’m sure we’ll be trying it out soon!
Looks delicious…thanks for sharing!
Funny, I made something very similar for lunch today. Chick-peas from the pantry, and parsley from the garden. However, I’m so going to pick up some feta on my way home tonight cause yours looks just that much more yummy!
A general rule in my kitchen: feta makes *everything* better.
Looks lovely and summery. I love what you had to say about cookbooks. Some of my favorites have been picked up at garage sales over the years, with cooking notes in the margin – “try this one” ; “needs more baking time”; “best banana bread ever!”… Were the notes left for me?
Ahhh another one of your recipes that I just have to make!
That looks so lovely and fresh! I’ll definitely be making that soon – even if it is winter!
A friend has that book and I’ve loved paging through it. This salad looks so fresh and lovely! I can almost taste the salty tang of feta from your photos.
Your writing is lovely, and your photos are stunning; everything looks like the best meal ever.
That is very sweet of you to say Jodie. Thank you!
Just a heads up, I gave you an award! Check out my latest post: http://adventuresofadogmom.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/ive-got-sunshine/
Thanks Emily, that’s lovely of you. I really appreciate it.
Amelia, love, love, love your blog. So glad I found it. This recipe and pics look delicious. I have a favorite chickpea and hijiki recipe that your salad made me remember, to make — essentially — veggie “tuna fish” salad sandwiches. Lemme know if you’d like it =) Warmest!
I have never cooked with hijiki before – I’d love to try it, so yes please to the recipe! Thanks so much for stopping by Christina.
I’ll send it over to your simpleprovision’s gmail by the end of the week! Thank you, Amelia, and feel free to check out my food blog — smallkitchenchronicles.com. There are a bunch more recipes there I think you might like. Be well!
Thank you! I love the tips on your blog about small kitchen spaces. Mine is *tiny*, and I really could work on that clean, open counter tops idea…
Thanks, Amelia — and thanks so much also for the “follow”! Oh, yes, I hear you on the *tiny* kitchen, lol. The clean, open counter tops idea really made all the difference in mine. Be well and talk again soon!
I’ve just made this simple salad and just had a bowl of it for lunch. Delishhh, very refreshing, love the pinch of red chili flakes tospice up the peas. I replaced the scallions with fine chopped radishes from the garden. Thank you Amelia!
Radishes! Delicious! So glad you enjoyed it Christine.
This looks absolutely amazing!
Thanks for the tips.
Looks delicious! ~ judy
I love this salad and it brings back such lovely memories. I made it for 100 people at Janet’s wedding in DC. It was the most sought after recipe afterwards. Thanks so much for the sudden memory trip to summery DC, it’s cold here!
You’re welcome Katie! Knowing your cooking, I bet this wasn’t the only dish that people requested the recipe for.
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I’m planning to make a Middle Eastern baked whole fish on the weekend. Now I’m going to be making this to go with it.
That sounds delightful.
This is going on my list of “must try”, I adore simple delicious cooking especially when I already have the ingredients available!
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Made last night to go with steak – would have to say is a favourite of mine and so quick and easy to make not to mention healthy!!!
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This looks incredible, I can’t wait to try it! Please check out my Nutrition blog at blogfoodforthought.com!
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Hello, I check your new stuff daily. Your writing style is awesome,
keep up the good work!
I was looking for a ‘chickpea’ recipe and stumbled upon your blog via ‘google’…
Yum, this is just what I need for tonight’s dinner….
I hope you enjoyed it Carolyn
Indeed I did… Thanks again….
This sounds absolutely delicious! Saving this one for when it gets a little warmer, can’t wait to try it!
I needed to thank you for this excellent read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it.
I have got you saved as a favorite to check out new stuff you post…
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so easy, so yummy! I add chopped fresh spinich for even more healthy stuff. Thanks for a great salad!
it was quick, easy, and delicious! thanks!
I made this salad and it was terrific, my husband loved it I only made half the recipe and today I made it again. Love,love ,loved it!
Happy to hear it Priscilla
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This is an amazing recipe, though I used shallots instead of the red onion. I think I’ll be making this often as it’s easy and delicious…
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Cynthia.
I’ve made this and it’s my go to for my daughter when she comes home hungry. I’m making it tomorrow and adding some baked salmon that we had the other day…and just laying it over the salad…can’t wait. Thanks so much for the recipe…:D
Baked salmon sounds like it will be delicious with it! So happy you and your daughter like it.
Just made this – it is amazing!!!
Glad you enjoyed it Jessica!
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What a beautiful photo. I was looking for a new salad recipe and here it is. I love th addition of the tuna. Monica
I have made this before…super easy, super delish, and very nutrish